Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain

"This is syphon filter?!"

A couple of weeks ago, I ventured into a circuit city, where I picked up a copy of this game. I was delighted to see the game for a discount price, and it completely changed my mind to buy this over tekken 4, because I loved this series on the playstation... Big Mistake. Terrible controls, as well as terrible scenery, overshadow a lackluster preformance

Graphics 2/10- This is a huge what the heck? If I put on an older game, and compared it to the original Syphon Filter, you could hardly tell the difference. The whole scenery in this game, no matter what level, is choppy and more like a playstation game. But, you will not be able to tell that much- The game is mainly overshadowed by darkness. Also, I may not be a soldier in a war, but I do know that when someone is killed, their body does not look like that of someone who is perfectly fine. This mainly applies for when a “main” character is killed.

GamePlay 4/10-One thing I will state right off the bat is this- Syphon Filter The Omega Strain does not feel like a "new" syphon filter game. It feels more like an expansion pack. In this game, You take command of an agent for Gabe Logan and numerous other people. The "heroes' " of the older games are now "retired" in a sense, even though they do not look as if they have aged at all. However, terrible controls worsen an already lackluster performance for Syphon Filter

The missions itself differ from the other syphon games, but the scenery looks similar. For example, The first "mission" takes place on a subway system, such as that of the first Syphon Filter. The missions itself are frustrating- A normal amount of 13 objects are given to you to solve. Some of these are easy (eliminate a certain person) and some of these are impossible (Carry a dead body across the whole level with numerous enemies shooting at you.) Some objectives, like the latter, are disgusting and make me wonder if the developers just said “Throw This in there because it sounds cool." While some objectives are great and unique, the frustration ruins the fun. Oh and, There is a map but it overlaps with all parts of the level, and the enemies continue to shoot at you while you view the map.

Sound- 6/10- The sound may be the highpoint of the game, but it is far from perfect. It is extremely hard to hear what the mission is supposed to be because the characters speak to quiet. unless the volume on your television is at seventy five percent, you will have trouble trying to get background information on your duties.

Buy or rent- I remember when Syphon First came out on the playstation. That great game leads many to believe that it could have been as great as metal gear solid was. Syphon Filter could have accomplished that task if somebody didn't get lazy when they designed this game. If you are going to "resurrect" a series from the dead, make sure that you don't ruin the series completely. Stay away from this game and play the original syphon filters on the playstation, because that is the memory you should have of a great series, not this terrible memory that this game has given me.

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 06/07/06, Updated 06/23/06